In Washington state, schools are required to have 180 instructional days per year. Additionally, grades 9-12 need to meet a minimum of 1,080 instructional hours annually.
Currently, the school day at Camas High School (CHS) runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 15-minute conference period at the end of the day. However, if students leave at 3, the instructional minutes run low. As a result, CHS is looking at adjusting the bell schedule for the 2025-2026 school year to meet those requirements while maintaining an effective conference period.
“I’m not sure if it works for everyone, but for me, [conference time] is really nice to have, as I find myself needing a few extra minutes at the end of each day,” CHS sophomore Lachlan Morris said.
However, the current 15-minute conference period gives students a very short window to make up work or get help from teachers. Expanding that opportunity is one of the primary targets for the new schedule.
“The whole purpose of the change in the schedule is to find a really nice compromise because we know that in the past, students really enjoyed having a good 30 minutes to work with teachers,” CHS principal Kelly O’Rourke said.
There is no finalized bell schedule yet as variables such as bus schedules and student traffic are being sorted out. One potential idea is to start school at 8:35 a.m. and release all students by 3 p.m.. Along with that, a 30-minute conference period would take place following second period. It would be reminiscent of a period called “maker time” that used to follow fifth period. However, if the post-second period block is used next year, there will be planned improvements to ensure that it is more effective and productive than maker time used to be.
“Some students were able to use [maker time] effectively, but others did not,” CHS history teacher Mark Tomasetti said. “It really depended on the students.”
The new system would utilize a software program that allows students the opportunity to sign up to go to a different classroom every day of the week. Teachers can request students through the software, and they would also use it to take attendance based on who signed up to go to their room that day.
In the end, the goal is to give students as much support as they need to effectively learn their course material and stay on top of their work.
“A lot of athletes and travelers that miss school need that time to make up stuff,” CHS junior Sarah Oulman said.
While nothing is set in stone, the administration is working to make next year’s schedule as beneficial as possible for the quality of students’ education.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to help kids,” O’Rourke said. “It needs to be about making sure that we’re giving kids that support.”
Once a new schedule is confirmed, a virtual town hall meeting will take place to share the proposal with the community. More information, as well as visual timetables, are set to be sent out soon.
